Page 4 of Adored By Jonah

I laugh. Of course, that’s what she thinks her mom’s name is. That’s what every little kid thinks their mom’s name is. Ai yi yi, I can’t scream mommy to the crowd, at least twenty women would turn around. “What does your daddy call her?”

“Maddie.”

“That’s a good girl. Now stand right here, okay?”

When she nods, I smile at her. Jesus, she's adorable. “Don’t move. I’m going to try and find your mom.” Standing on the balls of my feet I look above the crowd hoping to see her mom. Cupping my hands around my mouth I scream ‘Maddie’ over and over hoping to grab her attention. On my fourth attempt, the beautiful woman I saw earlier turns around. When her eyes connect with mine I wave my hand gesturing for her to come towards me.

She looks around, obviously torn knowing she needs to find her daughter. “I’ve got her,” I yell and relief floods her face. She rushes towards me until she sees her daughter then rushes towards her and picks her up and holds her tight. “Oh my God, Gracie. I didn’t know where you went honey.”

“I’m sorry mommy.”

“I was so scared I lost you, Gracie.”

“Me too,” Gracie whines.

“It’s okay sweetie, mommy has you. I’m never going to lose you ever again, I promise.” Then she looks up at me and smiles. Dear God that smile. Pearly white teeth shine at me and I am completely love drunk. Who is this woman? I’ve never seen her before, but God do I want to see her every single day for the rest of my life. This is what Justice was talking about. Now I know. But how can the world be so cruel to give me a woman who is already taken? It doesn’t make sense. How can she be mine, but not be mine?

I hold my hand out, “I’m Jonah,”

Setting Gracie down beside her, she shakes my hand. “Thank you so much, Jonah. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I lost her.”

“She was very brave.”

She smiles down at her daughter then looks back up at me. “I’m Maddie, but I guess you already know that,” she laughs.

I nod, giving her a warm smile. “Can I get you and Gracie some hot chocolate?”

“Oh no, you’ve done enough already.”

“Oh come on, it’s the best hot chocolate in town, nay the best hot chocolate in Vermont. How can you pass that up?”

Gracie smiles looking at her mom hopefully her cold red cheeks and nose tell me she could really go for something warm.

“Please mommy,” Gracie says putting her two tiny hands together in a begging motion.

I do the same and plead with her. “Yes, please mommy,” I joke, kind of. I just really want her to spend more time with me.

Maddie rolls her eyes at me then grins at her little girl. Gracie probably gets everything she wants and has her mom wrapped around her little finger. I can see why, she’s pretty damn cute. “Okay, let’s go get some hot chocolate,” she says. “Lead the way, Jonah.”

I tip my head to the side, gesturing towards the stand. “Right this way ladies,” I say, holding my arm out so they’ll walk in that direction. We walk toward the bakery stand that is set up. Instead of waiting in line like I should, I go to the side and whisper in the guy’s ear. He eyes Maddie and Gracie then grins and nods his head. I grab two hot chocolates and bring them to the girls.

“Thank you,” Maddie smiles.

I grab a cup of my own then lead them away from the crowd over to some picnic benches. We all take a seat. “You’re going to want to drink that quickly before it gets cold,” I say and take a large sip and promptly burn my tongue. I shake my head immediately. “No. Nope. Don’t drink it yet. You need to wait for it to cool off.” Maddie and Gracie start giggling and with my burned tongue I laugh with them too.

“Is this your first year at Winterfest?” I ask, trying to get some information about these two beautiful ladies.

Maddie nods giving me a large smile. “Yes, we just moved to town a few months ago.”

“Oh really, what brought you to Jolly? It’s not a place many people visit out of the blue.”

“My sister lives here. She found it when she was traveling through the state for work.”

My eyebrows pull together what kind of work which she’d be doing that she would need to travel through Vermont?

“I’m a nature photographer. There’s beautiful scenery around these parts.” Says a woman standing behind me.

I turn around to look at her and see that she looks a lot like Maddie. “You’re the sister?”

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