In this month's issue of the Boston Bylines, Tara Hauser gets up close and personal with Boston's royal couple in her popular Transcript section...

By Tara Hauser

Since their whirlwind romance made it to the tabloids a decade ago, the public has been fascinated by the real-life fairy tale between a diner waitress and a dashing young executive.

Once upon a time, , now 30, not only charmed Boston's most eligible bachelor—she blazed into high society in the most unconventional but most unforgettable of ways. She led the highly-esteemed Boston-based charity group, The Lady Championettes Society, pushed the state-wide initiative to shelter the homeless, became mother to adorable twins, earned her law degree and joined the International Rescue Committee (IRC) last year.

, now 39, had been groomed to lead a multi-billion dollar empire and has since become Maxfield Industries' CEO, his brilliant sense of business only trailing behind his even more notorious reputation as devoted husband and father.

With their life in the public eye, most people would think they know all that there is to know about Boston's power couple but we suspect otherwise so we sat down with Charlotte and Brandon at their beautiful Back Bay home and got candid with them (they actually got candid with us but we're not complaining).

The Maxfield home was awash with the warm holiday glow—the air smelled of baking cookies and soft pine-scented candles, and the halls echoed with children's laughter and faint Christmas music.

Our team was whisked straight into the living room where a fireplace was lit, with Charlotte waltzing in right away, asking if we wanted marshmallows on hot chocolate or a plain mug of apple cider. Brandon was right behind her, winking at us and silently mouthing hot chocolate before his wife glanced over her shoulder at him with an arched brow.

With every single person finally armed with a steaming mug of hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course), we all settled down in the cozy living room that was more inviting for its sense of home and family rather than the opulence of a charmed life that Boston's favorite couple definitely live daily.

Our team came with a list of questions but if anyone's been in any conversation with Charlotte at good length at some point in their lives, you'd know that the conversation was going to go wherever she steered it.

Not that we minded. No one who knew her would mind when you are talking with Charlotte Maxfield.

First of all, she wore her signature look of fun and fabulous in a bright red sweater, white jeans and red sneakers, her dark blonde braid threaded and secured with a rainbow of ribbons, thanks to the efforts of her eight-year-old daughter Skyler. Brandon was casual in jeans and a pale olive green cashmere sweater, oblivious to the fact that he kept absently playing with Charlotte's braid during the whole interview in the guise of resting his arm on the back of the love seat they shared. Charlotte's hand barely left Brandon's knee, her fingers either gripping it or drumming on it when she got excited talking about something.

Yes.

Boston's fairy tale couple still adorably in love a decade after they met.

Is this how you guys normally dress when you're off work and just spending the day at home?

We'll probably still be in our pajamas if no one's coming over to visit. Why get dressed when you're just going to ruin it with mud and chocolate stains at the end of the day, right? You have no idea the kind of havoc a couple of eight-year-olds can do to fully capable adults. Or maybe you do because I'd like to think this isn't just mine and Brandon's style of raising kids. I hope we all read the same handbook.

What she's trying to say is that we're pretty casual and rugged around here when there's no company. But we can be trusted to be fully civilized when there is.

(giving Brandon a wry look) I'm pretty sure I articulated exactly what I was trying to say. (Smiling at me) But yes, we can be civilized. Charming, even.

Charming, yes. I think you've been accused many times of being that over the years.

Is it because I say exactly what's on my mind? Because if it's that, I don't think most people would agree they find that charming. Especially when I've got nothing flattering to say. But I'll do my civic duty of telling the truth if no one else will.

Do you ever worry that you'll say something one day that you would terribly regret and could never undo?

(grimacing a little) I was told years ago that it helps if I go over what I'm about to say in my head before actually saying it, and I try. As a lawyer and advocate of different causes and projects, there's a lot riding on much of what I say so I do try to be careful. But when I'm not working or I'm just around my family and friends, my filter can sometimes cease to exist.

(muttering to himself even though we could all still hear him) It can't cease to exist if it had always been non-existent.

It exists, Brand. Just because I don't employ it with you, doesn't mean it doesn't exist for other people.

(grinning because he can't seem to help the unconscious act around his wife) So I have special exemptions, is what you're saying. I always get the brutally honest Charlotte.

(wrinkling her nose at Brandon) Don't make it sound like it's a bad thing. I'm as honest with you about your awesomeness as I am with your, er... challenges.

What would you say are the top three things that are awesome about Brandon?

(brightening up excitedly) Oh, that's easy! Starting from the bottom, okay? Third would be how amazing he is with the kids. My kids listen to me too but they hang on to every word he says, which I can understand because it happens to me as well, every now and then. He's a great father—he's protective but he gives the twins a chance to discover life on their own. It's hard to do that as a parent who wants nothing but the best for them, you know? It's not a surprise though because Martin is an excellent example for a father. Second would be his incredible dedication to everything he does—may it be work, or family or a cause. He tried teaching me the same thing and it helped. But I'm just not the Jedi-sort who can shut down the world around me and focus on the Force, you know? I'm all over the place but he pulls me right back into the core of everything. He's like the freaking gravitational center of my metaphorical universe. Without him, it would be sheer chaos. It would be Big Bang but without all the convenient after-effects of organic life.

(smirking smugly although his eyes were very noticeably tender as he gazed at his wife) Am I still paying for my asteroid crash comment ten years later?

What asteroid crash comment?

It's old history so I shouldn't—

You might have to write this one down—

The pair just looked at each other after speaking at the same time. They blinked before matching smiles broke into their faces. As if they'd temporarily forgotten a team of three people were in the same room, Brandon took Charlotte's hand and pressed a kiss on the back of it before Charlotte used it to tapped the tip of his nose with a laugh.

When they finally remembered us, Charlotte flushed but seemed to have closed whatever sub-inch gap there had been between her and her husband.

We're going to keep that comment private, I think.

(expanding his chest in an exaggerated gesture) I don't want people stealing all my lines. They're reserved for my girl.

(giggling) I think he fears losing a little masculine credibility if the world finds out just how big a romantic he is.

I'm pretty sure the world already knows. Your tenth anniversary was broadcasted to the whole country when Brandon posted that ten-minute clip of the twins interviewing him about you.

In case anyone's wondering, Brandon Maxfield, dressed as the powerful tycoon he is, did a short but formal (as formal as you can get with eight-year-olds) interview with Skyler and Samuel about why he married their mother. No one with a beating heart was left dry-eyed by that video which Brandon had playing on several digital billboard ads all over the city on the day of their tenth anniversary. That video went viral—a mild understatement but a fairly accurate one.

(giving her husband an amused sideways glance) That was just him showing off. He's got mad wooing skills he's kept under all that stiff pinstripe wrapping.

(laughing) Careful, babe. You don't want anyone trying to find that out for themselves.

(doing a casual shrug) They can try.

And then they'll die. (turning to us with a wink and a smile) My wife is very possessive.

I am not!

(completely ignoring her) I think she fears losing a little of her famous cool factor if the world finds out that she does get jealous just like every human being.

(turning to me with pleading blue-green eyes) Can you blame me for being jealous? If I can clone and sell this guy on eBay, I'd be the richest person on earth. Everyone would want one—man, woman, young and old, the rich and the poor.

(leaning in toward his wife with a very serious expression) Should I get my R&D team to start working on that, love?

(perking up) If they come up with a better genetic coding to improve the current prototype, can I trade in?

(looking a little offended) What's wrong with the current prototype?

(trying to hold back a laugh) Based on that response, I'd say it's an excess of arrogance. Never could cure that out of you.

(sticking out a tongue at his wife) You like that about me, though. It drives you a little crazy. (turning to us with a conspiratorial smile) A little of that in a marriage makes every single day you spend with the other person just a little unpredictable and a lot more fun.

Can you say that even after ten years of marriage, Charlotte can still do something to surprise you?

(his eyes widening as if the answer to that question should be obvious and maybe it really was) Do you know this woman I married? The only predictable thing about her is that I'm never going to figure her out completely.

(batting her lashes sweetly at her husband because why not) Oh, but babe, you like that about me, though. It drives you a little crazy. (turning to us) And so while we do occasionally drive each other crazy, we still do get along. We can even agree on things despite the tyrants that we are with each other.

Brandon seemed to have temporarily forgotten that we were there again because he leaned down to press a kiss on the top of Charlotte's head, his eyes closing for a very brief moment.

What's number one, baby?

(her nose scrunching up in confusion) What number one?

(winking at his wife) The number one awesome thing about me. You only gave Tara two things.

(smiling at me) You know what I mean now about him bringing me right back into focus?

I didn't even remember I only got two.

Well, good thing he didn't because number one is pretty important. The best thing about Brandon is his capacity for love. And everyone in his close circle would confirm this even under the threat of his intimidating scowl. But I'm the person who knows this best because it's there every second of every day, almost as present as my own heartbeat, quietly reminding me in the background, under all the noise and chaos of this world, that it's there, keeping me not only alive but safe and happy. If all of us had someone who loves us as much as Brandon loves me, I think we'll be in a much, much happier world.

(turning to me, his eyes bright with a smile) Do I get a turn at naming the top three most awesome things about Charlotte?

Don't let me stop you.

(linking his fingers through hers and looking just a little bit giddy) Okay. Third from the top—Charlotte has the biggest heart I know and she wears it on her sleeve like a badge. No one would miss it unless they have a glacier for a heart. And I think we've all had a little piece of that heart. I've seen it. This city has seen it. The whole world's starting to get an idea.

(blushing deeply but grinning from ear to ear) This man, I swear...

Second, she's so damn beautiful. I still wake up every morning and take a moment or two to consider myself incredibly lucky to have her next to me. It's like waking up to a ray of sunshine each day and you take it in your heart, warming you inside no matter how crappy or cold the day might be.

(giving me a sideways glance and muttering under her breath even though Brandon could still hear her perfectly fine) What did I say about eBay again? This man is every woman's dream.

(laughing and blushing a little himself) I want to be the man in just your dream, darling. I hope it's either me or the twins that make you smile in the morning when you wake up.

The two had stars in their eyes as they gazed at each other—and not just from the glow of the lights wrapped around the nine-foot Christmas tree.

And just so I do my due diligence this time, what's number one, Brandon?

Charlotte's a lot of things but the one thing that always gets me about her is how brave she is. If she hadn't had that courage, she would've never survived to be the same kind of woman she is now. I would've never found her and that would be the biggest shame of all.

(her eyes misting up a little) It's easy to be brave when you have Brandon at your side so trust me when I say that my courage isn't really all mine.

Well, what other fearless things do you have in store for the rest of us?

More projects at IRC, for sure. They say there's no rest for the wicked. I'd say the same for the do-gooders but it just doesn't sound catchy, you know? Anyway, they help so many people and I've never had a bigger opportunity to do the same so I'll do what I can. It keeps me busy but it also keeps me at close to home.

She's going to be really busy in the next several months but even busier after that.

Another humanitarian appointment?

(blushing and looking a little guilty) You could put it that way.

(taking his wife's hand and leaning forward, looking very excited) Don't tell the twins before this article is out but we have a very special Christmas present for them this year.

At this point, our staff looked at each other, mental gears in motion, before Charlotte broke out into giggles.

It's a baby brother.

Or a baby sister. It's too early to tell yet.

Congratulations! That's amazing news!

Yeah, we're pretty psyched. Things have been so hectic in the last few years that we didn't think we'd ever be able to do this again but here we are, and we couldn't be any happier.

As my Dad would say, fate always makes itself known and it's up to us to acknowledge it.

Looking at the two of you, it's hard to argue that fate definitely has a hand in things. Ten years ago, I don't think anyone had the slightest idea that the two of you would find each other and bless all of us romantics with a love story that's almost too good to be true.

We were just a little bit more in the public eye but I imagine we're not the only ones with a great love story. I'm sure that somewhere out there, each and every single day, there's one happening, whether the whole world knows it or not. Some brave soul is taking a risk and putting his or heart out there and no one might know except them and the person they're risking it all for.

Any regrets? Or things you might have wanted to do differently?

Not a thing.

Nope.

That was in unison again, by the way, immediately followed by this smile they seem to just reserve for each other like they're the only two people in the world who get it. And maybe they are. Charlotte's probably right about great love stories happening out there every day and the only people to ever know it best are those who live them.

We set aside the questions we brought because they seemed mundane to what we'd peeked into during that interview.

The mystery might never be fully unraveled about Charlotte and Brandon Maxfield but we suspect it's exactly that which makes them a story that will still have much to tell in the years to come.

-TH

Hope you all enjoyed this long, epic journey with Charlotte.

This is still my favorite story that I've ever written but there are plenty others that I've enjoyed writing so much.

As usual, they are full of seemingly cliche plots that are always more underneath the surface. There are plenty of swoon-worthy heroes and heroines that are pretty kick-ass in their own unique ways.

Hope you can check them out! They're in my list of works but here's a summary.

Brandon's Notebook: For everyone who read TMMM and wished they could somehow peek into Brandon's mind, don't miss this one. It's in a journal-style and while there may not be a ton of dialogue, there's more than enough to give you a real good idea of just how bad Brandon's got it for Charlotte.

The Reluctant Romantics: You saw Jake and Tessa fall in love in TMMM but if you're itching for details about this adorable couple, read their mini-novella told in alternating POVs.

Virtue and Vice: Book One of the Cobalt Bay Billionaires series. Jaded, brooding, arrogant man—check. Young, naive but stubborn woman—check. Emotional roller coaster—Check.

Crazy, Sweet: A short, simple love story between a girl who can't afford the luxury of romance and a boy who will drive her a little crazy until she falls for him hard.

The Risk of Falling: Two people from opposite worlds who unexpectedly became friends find out what it's like to take the risk for a love they're both so afraid of.