Page 77 of Close to Falling

“You did?” he asks.

“Yes, and I loved them so much. But you know when I get sad, I try to think of the good times we had together, and I think about how lucky I am that I’ve got two families. I had my parents, and then I had Frankie, River, and Landon. And now I have you and Sarah.”

“I’m glad that I know you, Maddie.”

I smile. “I’m so glad that I know you, Fisher.” He grabs his spoon and continues to eat his cereal while I tell myself not to cry because this kid breaks my freaking heart.

***

I toss the tablet to the end of the bed. “I don’t want to have a wedding!” I yell to River who is in the bathroom shaving. He peeks his head around the corner.

“Okay,” he says.

“Okay?” I ask.

“Whatever you want, B,” he says, going back to his shaving.

“It’s too much damn trouble, and I’m already sick of it. Let’s just go to the courthouse and get it done.”

“Whatever you want!” he yells back. I get up and walk into the bathroom. I put my hand on the doorframe as I watch him. His eyes cut to me in the mirror.

“Can I do that?” I ask. He smiles and hands me the razor. “Sit,” I say. He does, and I lightly run the razor over his face. He watches me concentrate, and my mind goes back to old-time memories and unsure feelings. “You let me do this one time before,” I say as I rinse the razor off.

“I know,” he replies. “You did a good job.”

“I know. I think I do better than you,” I tease.

“You can do it anytime you want, B,” he says, and I see his eyes looking down. I look down, too, and can see straight down my shirt.

“River,” I say. He grabs my hand and takes the razor out of it. I’m unsure of what he is doing until he puts it down and quickly kisses me. Shaving cream comes off him, getting all over my face. “You’re getting it all over me!” He laughs and stands up, lifting me in the process. He runs us to the bed and pins me down, rubbing his face all over mine. “Stop!” I laugh, and he tickles me in the ribs. “Oh my God!” I try with everything in me to get away from him. He tickles harder, and I think I’m going to die. “I can’t breathe,” I say. Somehow I get out from under him and stand on the bed after I grab a pillow. I hit him with it as I jump up and down. He grabs one, too, and hits me on the legs.

“What are you guys doing?” Fisher asks as he looks at us like we are crazy.

“Pillow fight!” I yell, tossing him a pillow of his own. He catches it just as it hits him in the face, and I laugh. He smiles and runs to the bed, jumping up on it, too. He whacks me good, and we all three jump around like crazy kids. I flop down and land on my back, out of breath and about to pass out. “I’m getting too old for this,” I say as River lies down, too. Fisher does the same, and we three just lie there, panting.

“That was fun,” Fisher says.

“It was.” I laugh. River grabs my hand in his, and we smile at each other, hoping we made a good memory for the kid who’s sad sometimes.

***

“So, how have things been going?” Ellie asks me as I sit across the table from her at the restaurant.

“Good,” I reply. “Fisher is coming around more so every day.”

“That’s great to hear.” She takes a sip of her wine.

“Yeah,” I agree. “He asked me if he had any family the other day. Nearly broke my heart.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him family isn’t always blood. That I’m his family and so are River, Landon, and Sarah.”

“That’s a good answer, and it’s true.”

“Yes, it is.”

“How are you doing with the baby making?”

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