Page 15 of Protecting Addison
“It’s work. I’ve had two meetings, and now I’m headed out to give a pep talk to the wannabe SEALs who are about to start Hell Week, then it’s on to another meeting.”
“So you’re going to scare the hell out of them by sharing all the worst things you’ve had to do on missions?” Addison joked.
Ricky chuckled. “Pretty much. Don’t want anyone thinking this SEAL thing is a walk in the park. You need me to pick up anything on my way home this afternoon?”
“No. I think I’m good.”
“All right. If you think of anything you need, just shoot me a text.”
“Okay.”
“Addy?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re an amazing mom. Ellory idolizes you. And Artem, Borysko, and Yana aren’t far behind, and they’ve only known you for a short time. You’re doing a great job with all of them. I’m in awe of you.”
Addison’s eyes teared up again. There were so many times she felt as if she was failing. Trying to earn enough money for Ellory’s medical bills, figuring out what she could eat that wouldn’t irritate her condition, and now with the three little ones, trying to interpret their needs, which were so different from her daughter’s because of their experiences. It was a lot. And hearing Ricky say he thought she was doing a good job meant the world to her. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Don’t forget to send me a picture of that amazing cake. I can’t wait to see it. I’ll see you in a couple hours. If you need me, yell.”
“Okay.”
“Bye, Addy.”
“Bye.”
When she hung up, Addison felt better. Nothing had been resolved. Her daughter was still hurting, physically and mentally, she still had to get this cake boxed up so the man who ordered it for his parents could pick it up and transport it safely…and she still needed to make dinner, pick up the kids from school, and return the texts she was still getting from the other women in Ricky’s circle. But amazingly, the responsibilities didn’t sit so heavily on her shoulders anymore.
CHAPTERFOUR
MacGyver looked around the dinner table and marveled anew at the direction his life had taken. Never in a million years would he have believed someone if they’d told him two months ago that he’d be sitting around his table with four kids and a wife. It was chaos, and he couldn’t imagine going back to the way things used to be.
“I no like spelling,” Artem pronounced firmly.
“Youdon’tlike spelling,” Addison corrected gently. “Why not?”
“It is hard,” Artem told them.
“It is,” she agreed. “I was terrible at it when I was your age. And I can understand why you don’t like it. English is a hard language to learn, even as a native speaker. But you’re doing so well, Artem. I’m so impressed with how smart you are. Just do your best with that spelling. That’s all we can ask.”
MacGyver watched the little boy sit up straighter in his chair at Addison’s praise.
“I best in class at math,” Borysko bragged, obviously wanting to be recognized as well.
“I’m not surprised,” Addison said with a small smile. “When I helped you with your math homework, you got every question right.”
“Red!” Yana said, pointing at the plastic placemat under her plate.
“Yes, good!” Addison said. “What color is this?” she asked, pointing to her shirt.
“Blue!”
“And this?” she quizzed, pointing at the milk in the cup in front of the little girl.
“White!”
MacGyver smiled as his wife took turns talking with each of the children, praising them, challenging them, mothering them. He’d made the right decision to ask her to marry him, he knew that down to his very core. And not only because of how good she was with the kids. She balanced his life. Before Addison, he’d stay at work as long as possible, then come home and tinker with some contraption before working out and going to bed.
