Page 46 of Mad for Madison

Lily showed me her drawing—a vibrant, messy depiction of her and Bradley holding hands with what I guessed was Pluto beside them. “I think you captured Pluto perfectly,” I said sincerely, making her beam.

By the time we returned to the dining table, Dorothy had outdone herself. A roast chicken rested in the center, surrounded by bowls of mashed potatoes, buttered green beans, and warm rolls. Bradley was helping to pour water and wine while Dorothy placed a steaming dish of stuffing on the table.

“Come on, everyone,” Dorothy said. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

We settled in, and Dorothy served everyone, insisting I take seconds before I’d even finished my first plate.

“So, Madison,” Dorothy said as we ate, her voice kind but curious. “Are you planning on staying in the city for a while?”

I glanced at Bradley, whose eyes flickered with a quiet encouragement. “I think so,” I said. “There’s…a lot to stick around for.”

Bradley’s hand brushed against mine under the table, a silent agreement.

“Good,” Dorothy said with a satisfied nod. “We like having you around.”

Lily was a whirlwind of chatter, bouncing between telling me about her favorite cartoons and asking Dorothy about her plans for Christmas decorations. “Can we get more twinkly lights, Nana?” she asked with wide, hopeful eyes. Christmas was ten months away, but I guessed the lights had left a lasting impression on her.

Dorothy chuckled but took Lily seriously. “We’ll see, sweetheart. If your daddy helps me put them up, maybe.”

“Daddy’s not very good at twinkly lights,” Lily said seriously, and we all laughed.

“Hey now,” Bradley said, raising his hands in mock defense. “I’m perfectly good at lights. I just can’t compete with Nana’s ten-thousand-light extravaganza.”

“Maybe Madison can help,” Lily suggested, turning her attention to me.

I smiled, caught slightly off guard. “I’d be happy to.” I didn’t want to think if I would even be here when the time came.

As the plates emptied and everyone leaned back with that satisfied, post-meal glow, Lily suddenly looked at me with athoughtful expression. “Madison,” she said, tilting her head, “are you and Daddy boyfriends?”

I froze, my fork hovering over my plate, while Dorothy coughed lightly into her napkin, clearly hiding a smile. I looked to Bradley, unsure how he’d respond, but he didn’t hesitate. He looked at me, tilting his head a little. “Lily’s friend has two moms.”

Lily nodded. “Maya says her moms love each other very much.”

“That’s right,” Bradley said. “And sometimes, two men can do the same. Madison and I are still figuring out if we’re going to be something like that. Does that make sense?”

Lily scrunched her nose in thought. “So…you might be boyfriends?”

“Maybe,” Bradley said, smiling warmly at her.

Lily seemed satisfied with this answer, but then her expression grew more serious. “I don’t have a mom,” she said matter-of-factly, “but dads are better anyway.”

The table fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words settling over us.

Dorothy reached over and stroked Lily’s hair gently. “Your daddy loves you more than anything in the world,” she said softly.

“And so does Nana,” Bradley added, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re the most important person in my life, Lily. You know that, right?”

Lily grinned, her earlier seriousness melting away. “I know, Daddy. And Madison loves me, too!”

I felt my chest tighten at her words. “I do,” I said, my voice a little shaky. “You’re a very easy person to love, Lily.”

She beamed, satisfied, and turned her attention back to her plate.

Bradley caught my eye across the table, his gaze filled with a warmth that made my heart race. There was so much unsaid between us, but in that moment, it didn’t need to be spoken.

Dorothy cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “Well, Madison,” she said with a mischievous smile, “if you’re going to stick around, you’d better get used to this one. Lily has a knack for asking the big questions.”

I laughed, grateful for the lightness. “I think I can handle it,” I said, glancing at Lily, who was now engrossed in rearranging her mashed potatoes.

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