Chapter 6 I Love You, He Said

"Hurry up, Mom and Dad! We don't wanna be late for the family day's first game!" Heather excitedly shouted as she ran down the stairs.

"Careful, baby. You don't wanna attend the family day with a foot injury," Maxine warned Heather as she followed her.

It was Heather's Family Day at school, the first time Maxine would show up there, standing as her mom, and the first time in many years that Heather's classmates would see her with her family, complete. If there was someone who was so excited about this, it was the child.

"The car's ready. Come on, my babies." Stanley gleefully said. It made Maxine smile while double-checking everything that they needed to bring.

Upon arriving at the school, Heather went straight to the field, where she saw her classmates and teachers. The place was full of colorful buntings and happy families in their different colored shirts. It made Maxine's heart full. She, too, was very excited about how this day would go.

"Hi, teacher! Hi classmates! Look at my mom; she's so beautiful, right? I really wanted you guys to meet her," Heather suddenly said, taking everyone's attention, which made Maxine shy and shocked. She then just waved her hand as smiles greeted her.

"Hello, I am Patty. What is your name?" One of Heather's classmates said. "You are really beautiful," she continued while looking straight at Maxine's face.

"You're so sweet, thank you," Maxine responded as she patted her head. "I am Maxine, Max for short." She continued.

"Mom's kidding. She is Maureen. That's your name, mommy," Heather interfered, making Maxine completely speechless. Some of her classmates also laughed as to why Maxine didn't know her real name.

"Hey, what's going on?" Stanley finally came back after parking their car.

"Mom said that she was Maxine. But her name was Maureen, and not Maxine, right daddy?" Heather complained. It made Stanley look at his wife, who was still speechless now.

Stanley let out an absurd laugh. "Okay, guys, listen. Heather's mom was named Maureen Maxine. Maxine was her second name," he lied, thinking that this was the only way to get out of it. The children, including Heather, thankfully believed.

"I'm sorry about that," he then said to Maxine as he held her hand.

"No problem," she responded with a smile, not letting go of his hand.

"Parents, students, our family day will start in a while. Please go to your designated areas now," one of the teachers announced.

There, the whole day went by with ease. Everyone was clearly enjoying every activity prepared, including the Robbins. They gladly join every game and do it with such teamwork, competitiveness, and joy. Like a real family, they were. That made them the school event's overall champion.

"We've made it, woohoo!" Stanley said while holding out the trophy.

"My daddy is the best! My mommy is the best! Our family is the best!" Heather excitedly said while jumping over and over. She then gave both her parents a kiss. "Thank you, mom and dad."

"All for you, baby," Maxine responded.

"I'll just go to the washroom, mom!" Heather said before she ran through the nearest bathroom.

Maxine just sat at one of the school benches while waiting for her child to finish. That was when she realized that Stanley was not around anymore. She roamed her eyes around the campus and finally saw her husband-surrounded by many girls, primarily those moms.

'Jerk,' she laughed at the odd situation.

Fifteen minutes had passed, and Heather was still in the washroom. Thinking that it was taking her too long, Maxine decided to just follow her inside.

"Our family was the best! Your mom just cheated on the game earlier; that's why you won!" A girl shouted inside the washroom. Maxine saw it when she pushed Heather hard, making her fall on the bathroom floor.

"Hey! What are you doing?" She fastly went over to Heather to help her stand up. When she did, she immediately gave her a tight hug. The child started to cry. "What are you doing? Don't you know that hurting someone is a bad thing?" Maxine said, her voice a bit loud. It made the other girl start crying too. And just as that, her mom showed up.

"Who gave you the right to yell at my child?" She was mad.

"I'm not yelling at her. I'm just telling her that hurting someone is bad because it seemed that you didn't teach her about it." Maxine retorted back.

"Excuse me?!"

"Excuse me, too, but I saw how your child pushed Heather. Miss, please teach her some manners." Maxine said as she started her way out of the bathroom.

"So, you're saying that my child is a brat!?" The mother yelled as she followed Maxine out.

"I didn't say that at all." Her calmness made the other party even more upset. She continued the yelling until other people's attention was caught. The teachers also went to stop the scene. Stanley was already there too.

The teachers sincerely talked to the two kids one by one. It took a few minutes before letting them go back to their parents. "Come on, Alice. Be a good girl and do what you have to," one of the teachers said.

The other girl, Alice, then went near Heather. "I'm sorry for pushing you inside the washroom. I will not do it again," she said.

Heather gave her a smile. "It's okay. Apology accepted," she said as she gave Alice a quick hug.

When everything was settled, the Robbins headed to the nearest bench to eat and take some rest. "Thank you for standing up for her," Stanley said while walking, and again, he held Maxine's hand.

"That would never happen if you didn't flirt with other single moms in the field," she joked, making Stanley scratch his head.

It was a long and memorable day for the three of them. It may not be as smooth and perfect as it should be, but it sure was one of those days they would go back from time to time.

"Goodnight, baby," Maxine said to the already asleep Heather. As she gave her a forehead kiss, she heard a shattering glass sound from Stanley's room.

Maxine immediately walked over to see what was going on with Stanley or if everything was alright. The door was half-open when she reached the room. Her heart sank as she saw Stanley crying while holding a beer bottle.

"Fuck it, Maxine. Why do I have to like you? Why does it have to be this fast? Fuck, I like you so much! I like you so much..." she heard him say.

Maxine was so caught off guard that she didn't even notice how Stanley had already seen him outside.

"You heard everything?" He asked as he walked closer to her. He then put strands of her hair to the back of her ear. "All of that was true, Maxine. I like you." He said with all his heart.

"Stanley... we have a contract. Remember rule number seven? Personal attachment with me is forbidden. I am your boss; you are my employee." Maxine reminded him without moving an inch away.

"Fuck that contract, Maxine. I want you." He cursed as he started kissing her.

Although shocked and barely believing what was happening, Maxine still gave the kiss back. It was far from the kisses they shared before or when Heather was around. It was more intimate, passionate, and somehow lustful. Stanley devoured Maxine as he let the kiss go deeper.

They walked inside the room, lips unseparated. "I want you," he breathlessly said as he bit Maxine's lower lip.

Stanley's hands started to wander around her body. Slowly, he undressed Maxine. And although it was her first time, she didn't make him stop. She let him consume all of her, giving up at his every touch. The night was intimate as they shared love, making their souls one. Moreover, both of them didn't regret one thing.

"I love you," Stanley breathed out while hugging Maxine from the back. But since she was already too tired... she didn't hear him clearly, lost in her sleep, inside his arms.