Overboard: Somebody to Love #4

7

Madelyn’s POV

            Three weeks after surgery, I was sick of not being able to do anything by myself. I couldn’t carry the kids. I couldn’t give them baths. Anything that I had to bend down to do, I couldn’t. Justin had just wrapped his next movie, so luckily he was home to take care of everything I couldn’t. We were still arguing constantly, but that was quickly becoming our new norm.

            He was still terribly upset that I had gone through with the surgery. We could barely be in a room together for a minute before an argument broke out. It was so different than our normal, easy, fun relationship we were used to. But with all of the pregnancy hormones raging in my body, it was easier to stay mad at him than try to talk it out.

            It was that week when I really started to show.

            Selena had invited me to lunch, so I was excited to get out of the house. I took off my knee brace and grabbed my favorite pair of jeans. I gently slid them over my knee, careful to not bend it more than necessary. I got them all the way up and put the brace back on over them before I stood up and realized the problem. They weren’t going to button. My stomach was protruding to the point where none of my pants were going to button.

            I sat down and cried. Before this point, I had been able to pretend I wasn’t pregnant. I was basically living in denial, but I was okay with that. But now, I was pregnant. I had to face that.

Justin’s POV

            Madelyn went to lunch with Selena, leaving the kids and I alone for a couple of hours. We had just sat down to lunch ourselves when the doorbell rang.

            “I wonder who that could be.” I said as I got up to get the door.

            “Justin! What the hell has been going on here?!” Paige exclaimed, rushing through the door.

            “What are you talking about, Paige?” I asked, miffed by her.

            “I haven’t heard from Madelyn in almost a month. She’s not returning any of my phone calls. I know she was mad that I went with Noah to his family’s thanksgiving, but really? Is she really that mad at me?”

            “Paige, she’s not mad at you. We have been dealing with a lot.”

            “Well tell me.” She demanded. I knew it really wasn’t my place since she was Madelyn’s sister, but I felt as if she was my sister, too. And if Madelyn hadn’t told her in the last couple of weeks, she had lost her chance.

            “I will. Do you want to sit down and have lunch with us?” I led her into the kitchen where all three kids who were sitting around the table welcomed her with waves and cheers.

Madelyn’s POV

            “Maddie! You look fantastic!” Selena gave me a hug as I reached the table. I was finally off my crutches now, but it took me forever to walk since I still had my brace on so I couldn’t really bend my knee. I was basically becoming a professional hobbler. I thought I looked ridiculous. Since none of my pants fit I had to wear leggings with my brace, and that looked ridiculous.

            “Thanks, Sel.” I sat down across from her at the table. “You look amazing as well!” She definitely had that pregnancy glow that I was lacking this time around. “So what’s up? You said you had news?”

            “Well, do you still want a job?” She looked like she was about to burst with excitement.

            “I would love a job, but I don’t know how we could do that. I don’t want to hire nannies to raise my kids. And Justin isn’t going to put his career on hold for me.”

            “We will figure something out!” I started to doubt her, but she just kept talking. “Just hear me out and then try and tell me no.” She smiled.

            “Alright. Spill.” I gave in.

            “Well, a couple of months ago I was approached by ABC. They wanted a new morning talk show since The View is going off the air in the fall. I told them I would think about it, and I told them I had to have a co-host. I didn’t want to do a solo show.”

            “Understandable.” I didn’t know quite know where this conversation was going.

            “So, last week they called me and told me they really, really want me and they would do almost anything to get me. I told them I had been thinking a lot about it, and that I was ready to commit as long as you could be my co-host.”

            “What?!” I yelled, a little too loudly. Every one in the restaurant turned to look at me.

            “The best part, they loved the idea. They want you! They want us together! Two of Hollywood’s finest ladies hosting a brand new talk show? It’s brilliant!”

“I don’t know.” I sighed. “With the baby and all.” I said quietly. Both of us were still hiding our pregnancies.

“It wouldn’t start until fall, that way we can have time with our,” she hushed her voice to avoid anyone overhearing our conversation. “New babies and not worry about maternity leave and all that. They already found two nannies, so we would be able to bring the babies to work with us. And, we would be done by noon every day. How can you say no to that?”

            I really couldn’t. It was an amazing opportunity; doing a talk show with my best friend, could there be a more fun job?

            “So what do you say? Will you be my co-host?” She looked at me with big puppy dog eyes.

            “Yes.” I smiled. I didn’t know how Justin was going to react, but I didn’t really care. I wanted to do something with my life besides be a mom, and this was perfect.