Page 106 of Savior
“Ilike her.” Maddie says, releasing me from her embrace before she reclaims her seat at our table. “Your eyes are different. It’s because of Vanna, isn’t it?”
“You’re a very perceptive girl.”
“Kids see more than you think, Uncle Dean.” She replies, matter-of-factly, pulling another grin from me.
“Especially smart ones, like you, darlin’.”
“I just want you to be happy. It’s nice not to see the sad in your eyes anymore.”
“You’re killin’ me smalls.”
“Well, it’s true.” She sighs, playing with a sprinkle on the table, pushing it around with the tip of her tiny finger. “I wish we could all be a family. Like, a real one.”
“We are… A real complicated one. But you know I’ll always be here for you, right?”
She stares up at me for a moment. “Can I tell you something?”
“You can tell me anything, kiddo.”
“Mommy has sadness, too.”
“I know she does, sweetheart. I spent a very long time trying to take that sadness away for her. Long before you came along. But you know what?”
“What?”
“You make your Mommy happier than anyone else in the whole wide world, ever could.” Maddie rolls her eyes at me, and I have to stifle a laugh at her sass. “Promise me something, Monkey?”
“Okay.”
“Never lose this.” I place my finger over her heart. “The goodness inside of you. Never let anyone diminish your bright light. You bring so much happiness to so many lives. You’re special, Maddie. Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. If they do, you tell me, and I’ll… handle it.”
She smiles now. “That’s nice, Uncle Dean. But you’re scary when you’re mad.”
“Well, it would make me very mad if someone wasn’t good to you. But you never have to be afraid of me. There’s nothing you could ever do to make me mad at you.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
Tamra knocks on the glass window from outside on the sidewalk, getting Maddie’s attention and waving her out.
“This is bullshit.” Maddie turns back to me.
“I see someone has expanded her vocabulary.” I chuckle. “But you’ll get no argument from me.”
“Is Vanna coming back? I wanna say good-bye to her, too.”
“That can be arranged.” I say, pulling out my cell to text Vanna it’s safe to return. She emerges from the bathroom a moment later, and the three of us exit the ice-cream parlor together.
Tamra makes a move to take Maddie’s hand from mine, but she recoils from her aunt.
“I’ll bring her.” I say. “Just let us walk Vanna over to the bike.”
Shockingly, Tamra doesn’t argue. She simply turns to walk back towards Lucinda, still waiting beneath the Oak trees at the picnic tables across the fairgrounds.
When we return to Serene, Maddie looks up at Vanna. “Is there a baby in your tummy?”
Her question shocks us both, as Vanna and I look at each other with surprise. She isn’t showing yet, not while wearing clothing, especially.
