Page 65 of Real Forever
27
Madison
“Morning, Mads.”Lauren was slicing grapes for Maisie at the kitchen island when Madison came upstairs.
Maisie was at the table munching on a waffle cut into long fingers. “Good morning, Auntie.”
“Good morning, my favorite ladies.” Madison sat up at the island beside Lauren.
Lauren gave Madison a suspicious eye. “You’re chipper this morning.”
She grinned and raised her eyebrows like she was holding a secret. Lauren and Maisie looked at her and then smiled at each other.
“What is it?” Lauren pressed.
Madison pulled a piece of paper out of her hoodie pocket and handed it to Lauren. Lauren unfolded it and gasped.
“Madison, what is this? Where did you get this?”
“It doesn’t matter where I got it. The important thing is we have it. Between this and the refund from NorAsana, you won’t have to claim bankruptcy, right?”
Lauren’s fingers trembled, holding the cheque. Nikki had texted Madison yesterday with the money for the truck, and they’d been able to finalize it all.
She shoved the check back at Madison. “I can’t accept this, Madison. I don’t know how the hell you got it, but I could never accept this. This is more money than you make all year.”
“Hey, look at me. This is not up for debate or discussion. You are going to the bank, today. Put this check in your account and then pay off as much debt as you can. I know it won’t quite cover everything, but we will figure out how to tackle the rest together, okay?” Madison glanced at Maisie. “Crazy Maisie, can you do me a favor? Can you pick out a scrunchie for me that goes with my outfit today?”
Maisie narrowed her eyes. She could tell she was getting shooed, but she cooperated without complaint.
Madison lowered her voice. “I love you Lauren. And you deserve to be loved the same way you love everyone else. With kindness and care. If you love Dave, and you feel he is the person for you, I won’t pressure you to change your mind. But I can’t stand the idea of you being trapped here with him because of money. I know this doesn’t pay off everything, but I think it’s enough to keep you out of bankruptcy territory. Maybe you can talk to the bank about a lower interest loan for the rest or something.”
Lauren burst into tears and pulled Madison into a tight embrace. “Mads. I don’t know what to say. I’ll never be able to explain how much this means to me.”
“Don’t say anything. I know you’d do the same for me. You’ve always been there for me, Laur. It’s about time I stepped up and returned the favor.”
She grabbed Lauren’s face and kissed her forehead. “I love you. We’re going to be okay. Okay?”
Lauren nodded back, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Okay.”
“Maisie, Auntie has to go to work. Come give me a hug and my scrunchie.”
* * *
“It’s colderthan a witch’s tit out there.” Madison came blustering into Agatha’s covered in snow, shaking and stomping it off on the large black mat. The nipping wind had frosted her eyelashes up and tinged her cheeks rosy with slight white circles in the center.
“Yep,” Cliff replied from behind his newspaper. “Weatherman issued a wind warning and a cold warning.” He motioned to the old TV on the wall that Agatha kept tuned to the local news channel.
“Perfect.” She rolled her eyes and clapped the last of the snow off her mittens before heading to the kitchen.
Agatha was slicing cucumbers and wearing a white apron with small, surfing Santa Clauses printed all over. She glanced up when Madison entered. “There she is,” she sang. “Good afternoon, Madison.”
“Good afternoon, Agatha. How are you?” She squeezed Agatha's shoulder as she passed to hang up her jacket and switch out her boots.
“I am absolutely lovely, my dear. I’m making my favorite salad, the sun is shining, I’m already done my Christmas shopping, it’s a marvelous day.”
Madison grinned. Agatha could take the smallest things and hold such joy and gratitude for them. It frustrated and inspired Madison in equal parts.
“I haven’t even started my shopping. I don’t know what in the world to get Maisie. That child has more toys now than Lauren and I ever had, combined, through the entirety of our childhood.”
