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“I don’t think your dad is unhappy or lonely, Madison,” I hear Lily say. “He has you, so he can’t possibly be unhappy. If I had you, I’d be the happiest person in the world.”
Madison’s laughter follows through, and my heart swells.
“He should date you.”
Lily gasps. “What do you mean? That is meant for adults to decide.”
“But I like you. So, if my dad should have a girlfriend, it should be you.”
I don’t know how to feel about that one… although there’s one thing I’m sure of. I find Lily attractive. From the moment she walked into our house, through the couple weeks she’s been with us… there have been instances when I’ve stopped to stare at her.
Like the time we were cooking in the kitchen. Watching her handle the rice cooker with such concentration, as if she didn't want to screw up… made my heart thump a little. She looked appealing with her eyes squinting, head tilted, and fingers fiddling with the buttons.
When I walked into the kitchen the other day without my shirt, I could tell she was staring at me. I didn’t know why, but she had the edge of her bottom lip pulled between her teeth, and her cheeks were a bit red.
And every interaction with Madison has never failed to make my heart feel lighter—light enough that it easily puts a smile on my face.
“Thank you,” she replies, her light and cheery tone carrying to where I stand. “I like you too.”
I unroot myself from the spot and move a couple more steps, coming into view of them bent over a couple branches piled over a long rope sticking out on both sides.
Lily places the stick or branch on the pile, and Madison does her best to straighten it. They don’t notice me but watching them sends a warm glow through my body, and it feels like a soft embrace resonating inside me.
My stomach also flutters like a haven filled with happy butterflies. I don’t know when last I saw Madison delighted to help with such enthusiasm or heard such laughter from her lips as a result of interacting with someone else.
It looks like…
A family—they look like a cozy family… mother and daughter having their moment.
“Daddy!”
I blink rapidly, pulling myself from my fantasy.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see how you two were doing. But,” I turn to Lily, and the smile on her face gives my stomach a gentle kick. “A doctor is here to see you. Doctor Michael. I told him I’ll come get you.”
I see her face fall, and she looks away.
Should I send the doctor away? I want to see the smile on her face grow wider, not watch it fade away. But I know she needs to regain her memory, so I don’t comment on the mood change.
“I’ll tell him you’ll be coming in,” I say, hoping she gets that I’m giving her enough time.
When I return to the cabin, I see Michael isn't in the living room where I left him.
Where is he, then?
I head over to the kitchen—maybe he wanted to get water—but he’s not there. Which leaves rooms that no stranger would walk into without permission. My eyes narrow, and my security alertness kicks in. I don’t call out his name.
Instead, I begin moving from room to room, trying to find out which doors look like they’ve been opened and opening the closed ones gently to catchanyintruder unaware.
As I get closer to Lily’s room, the door opens, and he walks out, jumping back when he sees me.
“What are you doing there?”
“Oh,” he scratches his hair. “I’m sorry. I thought this… I was going to the bathroom, and then I got lost. I’m sorry. Where is the bathroom? You have such a big house.”
“It’s no bigger than a place someone like you would own in the city,” I point out.
