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"Yep. We will have to call you as a witness if the case goes to court, which likely it will."
"Right. And do you know why this happened?"
"I can't say for certain, but it seems the kids were just planning to party and didn't say anything about the spiked punch, thinking it would be funny to get the kids drunk. The drugs were likely an accident. Some drinks got mixed up. Of course, there could be a more sinister story behind it, but as there seems to have been no intent to harm the boys."
"Thank you," I say, feeling an immense weight lifting from my shoulders.
We pass Emily on our way out and I wave. "I'll call you later," I say, and she nods.
"Thanks for being here, Maddie," Damien murmurs as we step back outside into the sunlight.
"Always," I reply, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. And as we walk home together, I can't help but feel grateful for our bond–we might have lost our parents, but we have each other.
"Damien, how about we spend the day together? Just you and me," I suggest as we leave the police station behind. His eyes light up, a welcome contrast to the heaviness of the morning.
"Really? Yeah, that sounds great!" he exclaims, his voice filled with excitement.
"Let's start by grabbing some ice cream," I say, leading him toward our favorite little shop. The bell above the door jingles cheerfully as we enter, and the sweet smell of waffle cones and sugary goodness envelop us. We order our usual flavors and find a cozy booth in the corner.
"Remember when we used to come here after school?" Damien reminisces, licking mint chocolate chip off his spoon. "We'd do homework and eat way too much ice cream."
I chuckle, remembering those times when I bribed Damien to do his homework by bringing him here. "Yeah, it's been a while since we've had a moment like this."
As the day goes on, we explore the city like tourists, visiting all our old haunts and laughing about memories from our childhood. It amazes me how quickly time has passed since those days. Between bites of soft pretzels and sips of hot cocoa, we share stories and catch up on each other's lives, growing closer than ever.
By Wednesday, the sweet memory of my day with Damian lingers, but life returns to its typical rhythm. I dive back into my routine–taking care of Carmen, teaching yoga classes, and attending business courses at Columbia. My exams go well, and I can practically envision my future yoga studio taking shape. Well, in like five years, when I have the savings to make it a reality. Damien will be off to college around then, and I need to be able to pay for that too. He can work, and we can aim for scholarships, but by the end of the day, he has to go to college or get some form of higher education.
In the midst of it all, Roland and I exchange friendly texts, checking in on each other. I appreciate the connection, but I can't help but miss the intimacy. The memory of our late-night conversation tugs at my heart, leaving me yearning for something more, not to mention, the sex fantasies I have every time I see the man...
Hey, how's your day going?
Roland's text pops up on my phone as I'm taking a break after teaching a yoga class. I then have to rush over to Roland's place–I have somehow managed to get a gig teaching during Carmen's nap time two days a week.
Good, just finished teaching a yoga class, then getting back to Carmen as she wakes up. How about you? I reply, the familiar butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
Busy day at the office, but it's going well. Looking forward to seeing you and Carmen later, he writes back.
The thought of seeing him brings a smile to my face, even though I know our encounters will remain strictly professional for now.
Same here, I respond, before slipping my phone back into my bag.
And so, the days continue until one afternoon while I'm playing with Carmen in the living room, she blurts out excitedly, "Daddy is going to travel soon, and you have to come with us!" She gets so excited she knocks over a tower she's been building on the kitchen table.
I laugh, looking into her bright eyes. "Oops. We'll see, sweetheart. Have you ever traveled before?"
"Not on a plane. We will be in the air like birds." Carmen flops her arms excitedly.
"Only a couple of days till Frankfurt," Gina chimes in, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel as she walks into the room. Her red hair bounces with each step, and I can tell she's loving Carmen's enthusiasm.
"Sounds like you will have fun," I tell Carmen, trying to sound nonchalant but feeling a flutter of excitement at the prospect of traveling with Roland and Carmen. Roland hasn't mentioned anything though, so I'm not sure I’m even invited.
As evening falls, I wait for Roland to return from work so I can get home. I'm really tired. It's one of those days I've agreed to stay later than normal and Carmen is already in bed. Eventually, the door clicks open, and Roland strides in, his dark hair slightly tousled from the day.
"Hey Maddie, how was your day?" he asks, grinning at me. He looks me up and down and I blush, knowing exactly what he's thinking about.
"Good, and you?"
"Busy. But listen, we need to talk," he says, a hint of urgency in his voice.
