Malia Davis

“Come back right after those two rides.” Malia warned her boys before sitting on a bench with some of the prizes they had won. She smiled as she watched her boys give their tickets and get on the small roller coaster. Malia sat and opened her candied apple biting into it just as someone sat down next to her. “You’re sitting on my son’s stuffed Sonic the Hedgehog.” she said gesturing to the stuffed animal under their butt.

@maplecstarters​ @maplehalloween

“The guy said that the extra cream would make it more palatable so if it doesn’t taste good, I can kick him in the balls before we leave.” Malia smirked as she handed Harriet the cup of coffee. As she sat down on the bench next to the other mother, she glanced at her two sons who were happily playing in the sandbox. There was a pretty large age gap between Hendrix and Eli and Ethan, but they were all playing pretty well together. “Have the twins bored Hendrix to tears yet?” she teased as she crossed her legs and took a sip of coffee.

maliaplayer1​:

The Darkest Hour of Night- Malia & Ben

Given the hour, Ben had answered immediately when Malia called. He couldn’t help thinking the worst, and was relieved when he could help her with something as easy as meeting her this late at night. There wasn’t even a decision to be made, he just left a message for his grandfather excusing himself from their morning walk, just in case, and left the house again, locking them up tight.

It took him a little bit to find the house, never having been to that part of town before, but once he did he was out of the car and up the driveway in no time, having even forgotten to lock his car.

“Hi,” He breathed with a sigh of relief when she looked okay, his face furrowed in worry. He shook his head. “No, you didn’t. I had just gotten home from the club when you called.” Ben reassured her, knowing he’d come even if he had been dead asleep. 

“I…” Ben said, hesitating a little but reaching for her all the same just a reassuring touch on the arm. “I just want you to be okay, and if I can help I’ll do anything.” He said, honestly. He wasn’t necessarily known as being a big comforting person. The help he gave was usually in the form of muscle and the like so he just hoped he could help.

Malia had never expected for Ben to pick up on the first ring when she called. She had been trying to think of something to say as he was still saying hello. It completely shocked her. All she could get out was for him to come over because she had a nightmare. She sounded like a stupid scared school girl and she hated herself for it. She was not one to rely on the help of others. 

She continued to pace back and forth eyeing the whiskey that sat on her bar. She could drown herself in it and forget that any of this ever happened. Then, her eyes caught the image of her sons on the portable nanny camera tablet that she brought downstairs with her from her bedroom. Eli and Ethan were both deep in sleep. Eli sprawled out while Ethan was curled into a ball. Lights streamed across the large windows of her house and made her turn around. He moved so quickly that it shocked her. “Oh...well, I guess I’m keeping you from sleep then.” she frowned a little biting her lip. He had just gotten home from work and rushed over to see her. She was a fucking damsel in distress and she hated that. “I’m so stupid.” she breathed and covered her face with her hands taking a few breaths.

She dropped her hands and looked at him as he started to speak. Usually, she didn’t like to be touched, but she watched his hand reach out and land on her arm and she didn’t pull away. She didn’t want to pull away. His words caused her to look him in the eye again. Malia could tell he was being honest and it touched something inside of her that hadn’t been touched in a very long time. That someone cared for her in a way she had forgotten about. “Do you want something to drink?” she asked before closing the door to her house and walking into the kitchen. She wasn’t sure what to say. There were things bubbling up that she wasn’t used to. “I have a hard time relying on people.” she said as she stared at the transparent glass of her refrigerator. “People usually rely on me and I’m always there for them. I appreciate you coming over and just being here...for me. There are not many who would do that.” She said taking out a Coke. She got a cup and some ice out before pouring the Coke into the cup and took a long sip. Licking her lips softly, Malia looked over to Ben. “The fire brought up...things about my husband. He...um...was killed in an explosion.” she told him before taking another long sip of Coke.

Mrs. Maddox. I’m sorry to inform you that your husband has passed away while leading his mission. We thank you for his service and yours. Malia woke up gasping as the feelings came over her the same way they had that night. Disbelief. Confusion. Devastation. Numbness. She had been on a rollercoaster of emotion since learning about the fire. She had even taken herself to the remains one night as if she needed the pain to hurt a bit more. Eric had died in an explosion. Had it been similar to the fire? Had someone searched the wreckage for him? His military I.D. tags had been given to her when the officials had come to give their condolences in person. They were encased in a frame next to her bed with a picture of a smiling Eric in his camouflage uniform. She thought she had dealt with this. It had been a little over a year now. She was in counseling. The boys were in counseling. They moved. They were starting over. But dammit if the past didn’t have a way of coming back to find you.

How did she respond? Her shaky hands dialed the number of the only person that had made her feel a bit like her old self lately. Not the widow. Not the mother. Just Malia. She put on her silk robe that matched the black cami and shorts pajamas set she wore as she paced the floor waiting for Ben to come to her house. She never really liked people seeing her like this, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep and dealing with twin four year olds was no fun when you had no sleep, nanny or not. Her alarm system let her know he had arrived. She swallowed as she opened the door, making sure to keep the tears at bay so she didn’t look like a complete idiot. “Hi...” she started with a shaky breath. “Umm...thanks for coming. I...I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“Oh yeah, I almost finished an art degree 11 years ago. I mean, I would say I’m a pretty good artist,” she nodded, smiling back at her. “That’s really nice,” she replied. “Oh, he was. Literally, my college fall hard romance,” she laughed. “Oh for sure, I do love that I get to work as I learn too.” She nodded. “Not too sure yet, I do like paeds I think though.”

“Wow, I think we should be paying the big bucks for these shirts then. It’s only fair.” she shrugged and smiled. “Thanks.” Malia said with a nod before listening. “That rough, huh?” she said with a slight frown. From the sound of things, her experience sounded rough. “So you want to help out these little rugrats all day then?” she grinned as she ruffled the boys’ hair and they giggled before continuing their meals. “That takes a lot of patience which is not my strong suit at all so thank you for taking that job for the rest of us who cannot handle it.”

“A choreographer, wow. You must be really proud.” She smiled, knowing exactly what it was like to brag about ones siblings. As an elder sibling it seemed to come naturally, even if they didn’t know how much Mish loved them. She shook her head. “No… no. I got divorced. It was pretty messy. I think i’m happier here in Maple Creek. Sure, it’s quiet. But the people are nice and the views are beautiful.” She nodded over to the window. 

`”We’re similar that way, although I don’t know if i always had a passion for medicine or it became a passion. Once you get the bug you can never stop.” She laughed, lifting her coffee. “I’m working on the play part.” She smiled, raising a brow at the woman’s boldness. “I’m totally rebuilding here and trying to decide whether going to single’s night at the bar is sadder then staying at home in my slipper socks and watching the bachelor.” 

Malia smiled softly and nodded. “It’s good to know that all of my toes that she stepped on because she was practicing and I was simply trying to walk to my room was worth something in the end.” she chuckled softly. It had been an annoyance back then and Malia had definitely let her have it some times, but it all worked out. “Oh...I’m sorry if you’re sorry. Messiness fucking sucks. No one deserves that. Was it recent?” She looked in the direction that Misha had nodded. “They are. I moved here because of the trees. I’ve always wanted to live in the trees and I do now.”

She hummed and nodded understand what she was saying. “So you’re going to be a doctor forever then?” she asked before chuckling softly as she said she was working on the play part. “If this is you at play, I worry what you at work looks like.” Malia nodded, she wasn’t shocked by the raise of eyebrow. Her blunt tongue got her that and much more from people. “I’m mean either is fun I guess. It depends what you’re into and what you want. I would pick the bar if they have good whiskey, but if a good movie or show is on, I can’t say that the slipper socks would lose in the choice either.” she shrugged. “Do you know what you want right now?”

Mish smiled, watching the mother as she spoke about the change of scene they’d experienced. “A few different cities, NYC and Boston i spent the longest in for my residency.” She half smiled, thinking back to her own marriage. 

“Oh wow, sorry video games aren’t really my thing but i bet my little brother would be pretty impressed.” She laughed, already mentally making a note of this for when it came time to buy her christmas presents. “Right now? I drink coffee and talk to strangers about how awesome pancakes are.” She smiled playfully. 

“We love NYC. One of my little sisters moved there for dance and we go every Christmas. She’s a choreographer now.” Malia was very proud of all of her sisters considering how they grew up after her father passed away. She tried her best to be the best parent for them as did Eric and they didn’t seem to be letting her down. “Any plans to go back or somewhere different eventually?”

Malia shook her head. “It’s completely fine. I’m not into the fame of it. I enjoy it when it comes, but it’s not all it’s about for me. I loved playing video games growing up and I was very into computers and electronics. I just turned my passion into my career and it has really worked out in my favor.” She knew she was fucking amazing, but she didn’t need to shout it from the rooftops every single day of her life and she absolutely did not expect people to recognize her wherever she went. It happened a lot in California so she had already gotten her fair share. “I’m only popular with teenage boys most of the time now.” she chuckled. “Got it. So all work, no play? That seems very sad.”

“I’m actually pretty good at art, when I was a kid. That would’ve been the sort of thing I would design,” she said, laughing at herself. Though her face softened. “That really was young, I met mine in college,” she added. “I have a year left. I’m pretty happy where I am though right now.”

“Really? Well you’re hired to do our shirts.” Malia chuckled. She nodded softly. “Yeah no one believed that we would make it as long as we did besides us. When you know, you know.” she shrugged softly. “Was he your college adventure?” she smirked softly. “That’s not a lot of time left. I’m sure you’ll be done in no time.” she said after taking a sip of her orange juice. “Is there a particular field of nursing you’re more interested in or want to pursue?”

“Just order them online, you can get custom shirts anywhere,” she laughed, nodding. “Thank you, that’s kind of you to say. We were really young, one of those things,” she nodded in response. “That is a sort of consolation.” She smiled gently. “Yeah, Maple definitely loves its food. I don’t know. I’m still young. Currently training to be a nurse and I have my son to think about.”

“True. I’ll get my assistant on it.” she chuckled. Malia nodded and shrugged. “I was young when I met my husband too. We were both starting middle school together. We had lockers next to each other and he kept talking to me no matter how much I ignored him.” She smiled softly thinking of the memory. She sighed softly and gave a half smile. “You have plenty of time to figure it out and everywhere needs nurses. How much more training do you have?”

Mish chuckled, leaning into her own seat as the woman spoke. “What brought you to this sleepy town then? You’re right, it’s certainly a change from LA.” She smiled at the child who was now happily eating his pancakes. 

“What is it you do?” She asked curiously, tilting her head. She shrugged. “I did all my training in big fancy hospitals and don’t get me wrong they are exciting but…” She sighed, she’d grown up in her late teens in Maple Creek and somehow it had her heart. “There’s something about the personality of general practise… being able to know people. Feeling like you’re really making a difference. I love that.”

“The boys and I needed a change and a new place.” Malia nodded. “My husband passed away last year and living in California without him wasn’t an option for us.” she said with a shake of her head as she caught Eli’s slight frown. She kissed the top of his head before ruffling his hair getting a happy giggle and smile from him. She winked at her other son Ethan and he gave her a small smile back. “Where else have you been other than Maple Creek?” she asked curiously.

“I own a lucrative video game company. Have you ever heard of the Davis Gaming Company? That’s me.” she smiled. She was very proud of her company and it generated a lot of money for her. “So you’re in it for the heart not the money. That’s good. There needs to be more people in the world like you.” she said taking a sip of her orange juice. “What do you do when you’re not on call?”

“Yeah, I’ve lived here for forty years,” he replied. “Choice. I could leave if I wanted to. I’m not stuck here. I’m just content. I’ve always worked here, always had family here,” he shrugged. “I am Jonah,” he nodded. “You too, Malia, Eli and Ethan,” he said, greeting them all. “Well, I’m glad you’re considering it. My grandad loved that place and I am grateful people seem to care.” He paused. “I have given it 15 years of my life. It’s time for a new chapter for me.”

“Don’t you wonder what else is happening in the world? What else is out there?” she asked curiously. Malia had always looked for adventure and wondered what was going on in other parts of the world. It was interesting to meet someone who did not seem interested. “Nice to meet you, Jonah.” Malia said with a nod as the boys waved and smiled at him. “Of course. I know it is a monument in the town and after hearing about the town meeting it sounds like people are definitely passionate about it so I think it deserves another chance.” Malia thought second chances in business were important. She had bought many failing video game companies and absorbed them into her own bringing them back to life so why not do that with the camp? “What’s the title of your new chapter then?” she asked eating some of her pancakes.

“Military men, huh, sounds like a fun time.” Birdie said, eyes wide at the admittance. “Had an old high school boyfriend,” One of many, “that went into the marines, I think. Oh, I should look him up.” She said, more to herself, but she tapped something on her phone for later.

“Oh, I will. One bad hangover doesn’t ruin the fun.” She said, typing the recipe into her notes app, before putting the phone away so as not to be rude.

“Sweet and sour. The whole package.” She complimented the boys, and she was attentive as ever. “I’ve taught college courses and am now teaching high school, but every time I get to interact with kids their age I just want a classroom full of them.” She said, possibly her biological clock speaking more than her sense. “Eat ‘em up with syryp.” She said, making a silly face.

Birdie turned back to Malia and nodded. “I did. It’s usually the only stage my parents still attend so I accompanied them.”

“It had it’s moments.” she smiled. “Until you took an unexpected dip into the toilet ass first.” Malia had taken quite a few before learning to look first and bitch about putting the seat down. She always felt lucky that Eric was a bit of a neat freak. “Marines are a different level. They can be very intense. Be careful with them.” she said giving the woman a wink.

She chuckled as she accurately described her boys. “And then some.” she nodded. “Wow, well thank you for doing what you do and I’ll buy you copious bottles of wine if you end up teaching these two. I should give you some video games. Your students are part of my target audience.” The boys giggled at her silly faces and made some back to her before eating more of their food.

“Nice. Is that the only stage you enjoyed or were there others?” she asked as she ate more of her own pancakes.

Alex smiled, resting her head on her hand as the little boy giggled. “Don’t worry about it, they’re just stories my dad used to tell me. When i say stories… i mean total lies.” She laughed at Malia’s feisty reaction. “Yeah… ghosting because they jsut disappear like ghosts.” She sighed, but pulled up a stool to join Malia and her son. “It’s cool though, really. Every time a guy doesn’t turn up i just remind myself it’s a bullet dodged.” 

Malia chuckled as did her boys before going back to eating. “I’m sure they were lies for your own good. That’s kind of a parent’s thing.” she smirked. “Mmmm....clever. I’m a little concerned for the future generation’s vocabulary. Can’t blame it on the screens because then I would go out of business.” She nodded. “Good for you. Though those guys probably deserve a bullet in the arm or the leg or the...” she stopped herself as her twin sons’ eyes peered up at her. “Foot...definitely the foot.” she nodded before smiling back at them. “Still working on my censorship, but I think my boys are used to it now.”

Harriet laughed gently, the moment genuine and nice. “We for sure need t-shirts for that,” he joked with another light laugh. Smiling as her boy joined in with he gesture too. It was a sweet. “I can understand that. It wasn’t a new start for me, more so returning home when things didn’t work out with my partner. I am so sorry about your husband though,” she said, though she didn’t want to pry. She understood loss herself. “I would say, just make your way around them all.”

“If you find them, I’ll buy them.” Malia chuckled softly and winked at Hendrix. “Well your partner must suck because you seem pretty cool to me. Italian cuisine lovers have to stick together. Their fucking loss.” she shrugged softly. She gave the other a soft smile and nodded. “Thank you. He was doing what he loved so that is a sort of consolation.” He loved leading a team and protecting the country so Malia had grown at peace with it. “Well that means we’re going to be pretty damn busy then. Do you plan on staying here or is there another destination you want to end up at?”