A Beauteous Flower

Chapter 30 - The Unexpected Arrival

"Oh my, God," gasped Madison. "But he's not supposed to be home until tomorrow afternoon!"

Deva shrugged.

"Guess he missed you."

Madison checked to be sure her bikini was straight. Guilt made her feel as if Steve's ham-handed touches had left a visible trail of possession on her body. She glanced at Deva.

"How much did you ...."

Deva shook her head.

"Just us girls. You did good," she reassured Madison.

Madison let out a relieved sigh. Despite her guilt, she felt better with Daniel home and, she resolved that Daniel would never know what just about happened here. It was a safe bet because Steve would probably never admit to a loss and Deva would never tell. The cool breeze blew again as she headed out the back door to greet her husband, but for a second Madison got the distinct impression that she had forgotten something. Madison shook it off because she didn't have time for whatever it was now. She wanted and needed to go to Daniel and put her arms around him, her anchor.

Daniel wasn't hard to find, because he actually stuck out like a sore thumb.  In a crowd of scantily clad and physically buffed party-goers, he looked trim and slender in a pair of black slacks over black brogues and a French blue button-down shirt. His pink and blue tie hung loosely knotted and he carried his dark tweed sports coat over his arm. As he scratched his head at the sight of the crowd around his pool, Daniel's black fedora rode to the back of his skull and his large black computer bag hung from his right shoulder. He looked dazed, as if he didn't quite understand what he saw, and he looked exhausted, and Madison could not wait to get her hands on him.

"Hey, hubby!" she gushed a little too anxiously as she flounced to him like a little girl. Madison sprang at him and hugged him and kissed him a little too fiercely, as if she tried to convince herself and the whole world that she hadn't just kissed another man. In the cool evening crowd of the party, Daniel's body was cozy warm while his blood shot and bleary eyes continued pan around in confusion.

"How is my man?" Madison chirped happily to distract him.

Daniel nodded while he continued to take in the scene of the party with tired eyes.

"Tired," he sighed. "Tough week."

Madison planted a wet "smoochie" kiss on his cheek which she emphasized with a loud "mwah!" and her right foot came off the pool deck like something out of a movie from the 1950s. Everything felt stilted and crooked, and Madison's chest tightened with the fear that Daniel would find out what had just happened. Conversely, Madison was concerned that if she had acted a little too glad to see him, that also might tip him off that something other than the party had gone on recently. It was bad enough Daniel knew about the party.  It would be humiliating if he found out about the rest.  She decided she'd better tone in down and stepped back to simply take his hand.

"Where is your suitcase?"

"It's in the truck," Daniel said with an absent wave toward his SUV parked halfway down the driveway due to the mass of visitors' cars. "I'll get it in the morning."

Daniel finished his look around and his eyes fixed on Madison. She read exhaustion on his face, but nothing else, as always.

"Who are these people?" he asked quietly.

"Oh, just some friends." Madison said lightly. "You don't mind, do you? I missed you!"

Then she turned to the crowd that eyed Daniel suspiciously because he obviously didn't fit in, like he might be a kind of parental figure who came home to ruin everyone's good time.