Page 41 of The Doctor's Twins

“Give it time. You’ll be my age one day and you’ll wonder why people are calling you ma’am when you still feel like a teenager.”

“You’re nuts, Ma. I love you.”

“Love you too, baby.”

After talking to my mother, I decided it was time to call Madison.

“Hi, Madi.”

“Peyton. This is a nice surprise. How are you?”

“I’m okay, thanks. Just spoke to Mom. She says you’re doing well.”

“Actually, my left leg goes all numb every so often. Looks like the baby is lying on my sciatica nerve. Oh, Peyton, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Please, Madison, don’t apologize. It’s okay. I’m so happy for you and Tom.”

“It was such a shock, Peyton. How are you coping?”

“I’m okay. Most days I want to drive to Mexico and kick the shit out of Mateo. Other days I get through with minimal rage bubbling under.”

“I don’t know how you did it. I would have been a nervous wreck. You’re very brave, Sis.”

“I don’t feel brave. I feel stupid and gullible.”

“That’s crazy. Mateo showed you a side of himself that he wanted you to see. Who really knows what goes on in anyone else’s mind? People are more devious than we could ever imagine.”

“Thank you for saying that, Madison.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

“You have a family and you put them first. That’s the way it should be. Do you know the sex of the baby?”

“Yes, it’s a girl. The boys aren’t impressed. They’re not sure about a sister being part of their ‘gang’.”

“Figures,” I chuckled.

“If she’s anything like you, her brothers had better watch out.”

“Funny.”

“How’s your residency? Have you decided what to specialize in yet?”

“I’m toying with a few ideas. Surgery is definitely where it’s at for me.”

“I hope you cut better than you sew,” Madison laughed.

“Hey, elementary school quilt class doesn’t count.”

“I’m sure your patients will be relieved to hear that. Mom still has all those disasters packed away in a box in the attic. Who knows what she's going to do with all that crap.”

“She’s probably saving it for when she needs leverage. Use it to torture us in front of our kids or something.”

“I look forward to the day when you and I can watch our kids grow up together, Peyton.”

“Me too.”

I heard a noise in the background, and Madi yelling at one of her boys about playing inside the house with a ball.

---