Page 272 of Bossy Hero

She made me another cock sock. This one is black and white. I’d guess penguin or zebra, but it doesn’t have little eyes like the horse did. And... is that a bow tie?

When I turn it over, there’s a tiny tag attached.

With all the weddings coming up, I thought you needed formal attire.

No longer able to restrain it, my booming laugh bellows from deep inside me.

I open the second gift, finding a mini crotched figure, similar to the little soldier she made me fifteen plus years ago. This one isn’t a soldier. It’s a bearded man with silver-streaked hair, wearing a tuxedo. Like the other gift, this one has a tag on the back.

My Alan.

My throat threatens to close, and my sinuses sting.

The final gift is another crotched figure. A woman in an off-white dress. Brown flowing hair with strands of gray falls past her shoulders. She holds a small bouquet of blue flowers that match her eyes.

I don’t need to turn it over to know this is my bride.

The last item in the box is an envelope. With my heart thrashing raucously, I open it and retrieve a note written by Maddie’s hand.

My dearest Alan,

Before you came into my life, love was a four-letter word. One synonymous with pain, both physical and emotional. And so I hid from it, tucked away from the world. You taught me, day after day and year after year, how wrong I was. You gently encouraged me to leave the safety of my den, intent on showing me that not all love hurts.

And you were right.

In sixteen years, the only time loving you caused me pain was when I denied you... or denied us.

Although I’ll always regret the years we missed, I know it was for the best. If I would have emerged before I was healed, I would have hurt you. After all, wounded bears attack when they’re threatened and scared.

I was scared for so long.

Alan, I’m not scared anymore. And I owe it to you.

Because when I was blinded by my trauma and couldn’t see the love right in front of me, you stood there and waited until I could. You reached out for me with the tenderness of a man who knows what love is worth. With the patience of a redwood, you waited. I don’t know why you did. Especially when I made choices that cut you. But you were steadfast, clad in your battle armor. Always ready and willing to fight for love. To fight for us.

From now on, you won’t fight alone.

When you’re ready, get dressed in those new fancy clothes you got today and meet me in the conference room.

It’s someday.

Love always and forever,

Your Maddie

xo

P.S. You didn’t really think Lettie would let Tomer get out of wearing a tuxedo, did you?

I wipe a lone tear from the corner of my eye and reread the letter twice. My fingertip lingers over the tinyxandounder her signature.

Before I stand, I return everything to the box, including the formal cock sock. I contemplate putting it on underneath the dress slacks. But I think it’s better saved for the honeymoon.

When I gather up the tissue paper, something flutters onto my lap.

It’s the old, wrinkled receipt from the diner on the night we met. I gave it to her on Christmas Eve in the hospital after Sammy had the twins. In the madness of the evening, I never got to explain the significance to Maddie. She kept it, though.

On the receipt is a sticky note.

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