Page 55 of Stuck Together

“Madison helped me make it.” Rylee beamed with pride.

“You made this?” She nodded and clapped her hands. “And Madison helped you?”

This was by far the best Christmas gift I’d ever been given. This must’ve been what Madison was helping Rylee with last week in secret. “It’s beautiful. And it’s us.”

Rylee plopped down on my lap and hugged me. “Yup. Madison said we had to start a happy tradition. Like the ornament tradition you did when you were a kid. Do you like it?”

“Like it. No. I love it. Thanks, pumpkin.” I kissed the top of her head and held her tight. I couldn’t believe Madison helped her with this. It was exactly what I needed, and I’d never be able to thank her enough for this gift.

“You look happy, Daddy.” I shifted my eyes to Rylee and the look on her face tugged at my heart. She was waiting to make sure it had the effect she’d hoped for. I tried to hide my pain around Christmas, but I so often failed. It ultimately ended up effecting Rylee and that was something I never should’ve let happen.

“I am happy. Very happy. Thank you.”

“Can we do this every year?” Her eyes widened with hope.

“Now, that’s a great idea.” I lightly pinched her nose. “Now, open your gift.”

Rylee finished tearing the paper away and lifted the lid off the box.

As soon as I saw what was inside, I squeezed my eyes shut. My shoulder sagged.Fuck. I messed up.

“Daddy, it's beautiful.” Rylee gasped with excitement. “And it looks just like ... Oh, my goodness, look at the sparkly, blue dress and the blond hair. This is Princess Maddie. How did Madison know what princess Maddie looked like?”

“I wonder,” Grandmother mumbled from behind us.

I sighed. “Because I made this ornament for Madison when we were kids. I can't believe she still had it.”

“Well, why wouldn't she.” Grandmother groaned. She wasn’t even trying to hide her disappointment in me. “When are you two going to get your heads out of your asses and admit you love each other?”

Rylee covered her mouth as a giggled formed. “Gigi said a bad word.”

I rolled my eyes. “This is none of your business. Stay out of it.”

“This is entirely my business and it’s that little girl's business as well. Go after her. Now.” Grandmother pointed toward the front door. “You already lost that woman once, now go before you lose her again.”

I was defeated. I didn’t know what the right thing to do was anymore. All I knew with certainty was that I did love Madison. And if these gifts meant even half as much to her as they did to me, then she loved me too. I dropped my head into my hand and rubbed my eyes.

“Daddy.” Rylee’s voice was soft and quiet next to me. When I looked at her she batted her eyes at me with a frown. “If Madison's upset about something, you should say you're sorry no matter what.”

I picked up the ornament I had made Madison years ago. She had taken great care of it. I had made this little princess in her sparkly blue dress to look like Madison. When I made up those stories for Rylee about Princess Maddie, I never expected to see Madison again.

“If you hurry, you might catch her before she makes it to the subway. Assuming she didn’t find a cab,” Grandmother said

“Go daddy.” Rylee smiled up at me.

And for the first time in a really long time I knew exactly what I needed to do.

***

IPRESSED THE ELEVATORbutton several times as if that would magically make it arrive faster. Enough time had passed since Madison left, that she could be long gone by now. My only hope of catching up to her was if she decided to take the subway home. Chances were high that was the case since there weren’t a lot of cabs around on Christmas Eve.

I ran out the front door of Grandmother’s building and was instantly hit with freezing temperatures. I pulled my coat tighter around me and sprinted in the direction of the subway station.

A heavy dusting of snow was falling and at this rate, we were going to wake up to a white Christmas.

The ground was starting to get slick and I came across a few ice patches as I ran. I didn’t let that slow me down. If Madison was headed for the subway, I didn’t have time to waste if I wanted to catch up to her.

Thankfully, the sidewalks were mostly empty. There weren’t a lot of people out tonight. I rounded the last corner and onto the street where the subway station was located and that’s when I saw her long blond hair waving back and forth behind her.

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