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Iquietly opened the door closer to one am than midnight. Madeline’s car was parked on the street, and I hoped she took my bed like I told her to. Tonight was one hell of a night for calls. There wasn’t a dull moment. My partner for the night, Sherry, was working the back while I got to drive to and from the scenes and then to the hospitals, something I honestly loved doing. But I was beat.
I was expecting to enter a dark house, but I was greeted by the living room light still on. Niko sauntered out of Holly’s room, coming up to me and licking my hand. He would not make the best guard dog. After giving him a proper greeting, I stood to see Madeline asleep on the couch, her book fallen to the floor. Even though she was in an awkward position with her arm bent behind her head being used as a pillow, her knees tucked up and her entire body seeming to fit in the crack of the cushions, she looked insanely comfortable.
If I knew it would be welcomed, I would have curled up with her.
I dropped my bag at the edge of the couch and smiled at her peaceful state, walking over to the arm rest and taking the blanket, draping it across her body. She inhaled and shifted, seemingly to get farther into the crack.
I reached over and grabbed her book, her bookmark nowhere near the pages. I gently set it on the coffee table. Niko came up softly and pushed his nose under my arm.
“Hey, bud,” I whispered. “How are my girls?” I asked, rubbing him behind his ears. He licked my chin and then made his way back to Holly’s room. I glanced at the sleeping Madeline once again and then followed him.
Holly slept under her canopy bed, her favorite turtle in her arms. I silently walked over, leaned in to kiss her forehead, and adjusted her blankets. Niko settled at the foot of her bed, already half asleep.
“Are you going to watch over her every night she's here?” I asked Niko, leaning down to pet behind his ear again. His eyes closed, and he leaned into me. “You’re welcome any time, you know that, right, bud?”
I stood, giving his nose one last final boop and gently shut her bedroom door, leaving a small crack for Niko and returned to the living room, shutting off all lights so Madeline could sleep better than she would have. Brushing her hair from her forehead, I grinned.
If only she could take Jamie’s advice seriously.
I liked the way my apartment felt with her in it. It felt whole.
I sighed, leaving Madeline there, now covered and warm on my couch, and softly meandered into my room.
I woke to the sizzling smell of bacon and coffee. Rubbing my eyes and sitting up, I had to blink a few times to make out the time. I had only gotten four…maybe five hours of sleep. My bedroom door had been closed, most likely Madeline, but it still didn't cut out the smell coming from the kitchen,
Climbing out of bed, I grabbed the first pair of sweats I could find and a shirt, pulling it over my head at the same time as opening my door.
Holly sat on the counter as Madeline stood over the stove, Holly tasting every slice of bacon that Madeline placed on the wire rack.
“If you eat it all, there won’t be any left for your dad.” Madeline giggled.
I inhaled.Oh, that laugh.
“We can always make more.” Holly laughed back, reaching for another piece of bacon on the rack.
“Not if we don't have any more,” I said, coming into view of the two of them. Madeline gave me a small smile, pursing her lips when I returned it, turning back to the bacon.
“Morning, Daddy.” Holly jumped from the counter and ran to give me a hug, something the two of us agreed on when Hannah and I split. We always kissed foreheads goodnight, and we greeted every morning with a hug. She was eight. How much longer would this last? “You got home very late. We had pizza, and we went to the park and then watched a movie.” Holly began rattling off her adventure with Madeline.
“I skipped the ice cream bit. Figured you would want her to sleep at some point.” Madeline shrugged, keeping her eyes focused on the bacon.
“But we watched a movie Mom normally wouldn’t let me watch.”
I rubbed her back. “We just won’t tell her then.”
Holly gave me a smirk and then ran back to Madeline, who pulled the last bit of bacon from the pan.
“I used all of your bacon,” she mumbled. “I may have also given some to Niko.”
I leaned on the counter, my forearms resting on the cold granite, and made eye contact with Madeline. She stood up a little straighter and took a deep breath. Was she shuttering? I raised my eyebrows, not sure of her reaction to my eye contact. It’s not like we hadn’t looked each other in the eye before. She licked her lips and quickly turned to the cabinets, reaching in and pulling out a mug for me.
“You made coffee?” I asked, stating the obvious as she pulled the carafe from the maker and poured me a cup. She turned and handed it to me, nice and black, the bold smell wafting through the air. “You made coffee,” I stated again.
“Maddy says coffee is a must for any adult morning, and that it fuels them. Mommy and Donald don’t drink coffee,” Holly said, picking up her cup of orange juice.
“Well, your mommy and Donald must not have the will to live,” Madeline joked sarcastically. Holly chuckled, even though I knew she wasn’t fully aware of the joke. “So, what should we do today?” Madeline asked, pressing her palms on the counter and leaning forward.
“Well…” I lifted my mug and took a long pull of my coffee. “I won’t be getting called in today, and since it’s Saturday, you’re off. Right, Madeline?”
