Page 76 of Deserving Maddie

Nearly every person had asked her at least a dozen times if she was okay. Truthfully, she was. Other than the slap to the face and being drugged, she hadn't suffered. Which Maddie knew was tame compared to what some of the other women had gone through. Not that she was allowed to compare situations. She learned that quickly when she made a mention in front of Trista who promptly corrected her.

According to Trista, kidnapped was kidnapped. It didn't matter what happened, the shit still sucked. They had agreed to disagree.

"I'm glad you're okay, Mom."

Charley had been saying something similar every few minutes since they had been reunited. Maddie was starting to think her daughter wasn't holding up so well.

"Come sit with me, sweetheart."

Her daughter crawled into her lap, like she used to as a little girl.

"What's wrong?" Maddie asked.

It took her daughter a few minutes, but she finally answered in a whisper. "I was just scared you wouldn't come back home and then we wouldn't have anyone."

Oh, God. Maddie thought all the tears had dried up while sitting in Ray's lap, but there she was again, ready to blubber.

"Sweetheart, you will never be alone. Your aunt Kat would never let that happen."

"And I won't let that happen either." Ray cleared his throat next to her. "What your mother and I have isn't just us. It includes you and your brother as well. You're my family now and that means never being alone. No matter what happens."

Yup. Big blubbering mess. She came to Texas for a fresh start for her and her kids. What she got was so much more. After Anthony, she assumed she would stay single. Wanted it, actually. Then Ray charged into her life and she couldn't imagine him not in it. What he said was true. They were family.

"I wish Aunt Kat didn't live so far away."

Same, girl. Same.

Maddie was about to agree with her daughter out loud, but her best friend beat her to the punch.

"Then it's a good thing I've decided to move to Texas."

"Wait, what? Seriously?"

Everyone in the room whipped their heads to look at Kat.

"Yes, seriously. I made the decision on the plane ride here. I don't want to be that far away from you guys anymore, so surprise! Ray, I hope you don't mind getting a two-for-one special because my best friend tells me everything."

Ray just laughed.

"No objections. Anything to make my baby happy."

Damn that man. He knew exactly how to make her swoon. If Charley wasn't still sitting on her lap and Gabe wasn't on the other couch, she would show him how much that meant to her.

"What do you say, Gabe? Are you happy to have me moving here as well?"

"I agree with Ray. As long as it makes Mom happy."

Maddie realized just how lucky she was. She had the perfect boyfriend. Her kids were happy and now her best friend was going to be living close to her once again.

The last six months were tough, but for the first time in forever, things were looking up and she couldn't wait to see what else her future had in store.

Epilogue 1

"Areyousureyou'reokay with moving into my house? Yours is equally as big and could easily fit us all."

It was the same question Maddie had asked him over a dozen times in the past two weeks since they'd agreed to move in with each other. The only reason he'd waited was because he wanted to give Gabe and Charley time to finish school. Now they were out for summer break and he was more than ready to stop living out of a bag. Although at the rate he was leaving clothes, that wouldn't have been the case much longer either.

"Hell yes, I'm okay with it. It means no more unexpected visits from Trista to annoy me. Besides, Kat loves my house and wants it, so I don't even need to bother putting it on the market. All-around win for me."

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