Page 28 of Madison
I take a seat at one of the tables, anxious to get this shit started. I must get lost in thought ‘cause I’m surprised when someone sits next to me and bumps my knee. I look over and see Erik sitting next to me. “You know, I’d have a problem with just about anyone else marrying my little one, but you two… hell, you two are meant to be together.” I must make a face at him. “I know, you were gonna marry her even if I had an issue with it. Shows me how much you love her.” He leans back in his chair to reach into his pocket. “I know I can’t replace Mitch and would never try to, but being that he was one of my best friends from the time we were in middle school, I think I knew him just a bit.” I know he’s working himself to a point. “Yeah, honestly I think you are the person who knew him the most.” He looks at me for a second. “No, I was second in that category. Your mom knew him best. He loved your mom, I know when he was drunk he said some stupid shit, but I saw him with that girl and then with your mom. He was in love with the idea of that girl, but he was head over heels in love with your mom. He said to me once that the three best days in his life were the day he met your mom, the day they got married and the day you were born. The day you were born was one of the scariest for him too with the complications your mom had. It’s one of the few times I ever saw him pray. He was so scared he was going to lose you both, but you came out strong as could be. Unfortunately her complications made it so she couldn’t have more and I know that hurt her for a while. Your dad was just so happy to still have her and have you that I don’t think he felt cheated at all. He loved being your dad. Iknow I’ve told you before that he’d be proud of the man you are, but I think it’s the right time to let you hear it from him.” What the fuck is he talking about? I watch him pull out an envelope from his pocket. “Your mom and I found this letter he wrote to you in his shop after he died. It looks like he wrote it when he found out you were going to apprentice with Grant to learn to tattoo. I think today is the right time for you to hear from him. I only read the first two lines, the rest is just between you and him.” He hands me the letter. Looking at it, I can tell it’s my dad’s handwriting. It’s at this moment I realize how much I wish he was here today. I don’t think the pain of losing a parent ever goes away. It’s been ten years but I can still hear him calling my name.
I open the envelope and take out the paper. It’s a single sheet of paper, but that was Dad, never saying more words than he felt necessary in any situation.
Mick,
I want you to know I think you’ve made a very good decision. You have a great artistic talent, which you obviously get from your beautiful mom. Choosing to go into tattooing as a career will give you a more steady stream of income than some other artistic careers. Grant’s a good guy and will teach you all you need to know.
I know we’ve never talked about it since you saw me yelling at your mom a few years ago, but I want-no need to share this with you. You were right to call me on my shit, and I would expect nothing less from the son I’ve raised.
I haven’t had a drink of whiskey since that night and have no plans to touch it again. I’ve done some serious thinking and I know I’m not a good man when I drink the hard stuff. I don’t think I realized what I’d been saying to your mom all these years when I’ve been drinking it. I love your mom more than life itself and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to her.
I can see even though you’re just twenty-one, I know you’re a good man, and you are a man, son. I have two hopes for you in life. That you find happiness in what you do, that it gives you a sense of pride and purpose and secondly that you find your person. That you find the person that you want to spend your days with, that you can’t imagine your life without them, that you want to share your love with. Do I care if it’s a woman or a man? No, though I do hope you decide to have kids ‘cause I know your mom would love to have some grandbabies to love on.
Love you son and I’m proud of you.
Dad
PS If you're working with Grant that closely, maybe you can kick him in the butt and make him see that the person he’s meant to be with is right in front of his face.
Fighting back tears, I look up from the letter and realize Erik’s not next to me anymore. I wipe my eyes. “Son, are you okay?” Looking to my right I see Mom walking my way. “Yeah. I’m great. Mom.” She walks up to me with a concerned look on her face. “You sure?” I nod and hold up the letter. “Erik gave me a letter he found that Dad had written to me. I just read it. It’s likeI could hear him saying the words to me.” I can see Mom tearing up. “Oh honey, he’s here with you. He’s in your heart and you look so much like him. He’d tell you the same thing I do, that I love you and am so proud of who you are as a person.” I stand up and give Mom a hug. “Thanks, Mom. Love you too.” She wipes her eyes and takes out a compact to make sure her makeup is still good. “Guests are starting to arrive, let’s go greet them and get people seated. What do you say?” I stick my arm out for her to take. “I say that takes me one step closer to getting married so I’m all for it. Let’s go.”
Madison
Our ceremony was everything I could hope it would be. I’m really glad that we shared our vows this morning because even the traditional vows had me crying like a baby. Mick had tears in his eyes as I walked down the aisle to him.
Everyone did amazing with the food and we’re all sitting around, enjoying the evening. Mick hasn’t let go of my hand all night, and I love that.
I hear rustling behind me and I turn to see Ry, Saxon and Nicky bringing out what looks like a stereo. I look back at Mick and he’s got a grin on his face, telling me this ain’t a surprise to him. “What did you do?” He lifts up my hand and kisses it. “I know we weren’t gonna do a lot of the traditional reception stuff, but I couldn’t not have a first dance with my wife.” He stands up and holds out his hand to help me up. Some of the guys move a couple of the tables out of the way. I look over to Ry who has the stereo all set up. He looks over to me. “Mick picked this songout himself Sis. He knows you’re the country girl of the bunch.” I watch him hit a button and one of my favorite songs that Ma used to play starts playing. Mick spins me around once and brings me close in. “I hope you aren’t too mad, wife.” I look up at him. He doesn’t know just how perfect this moment is. “I’m not mad at all. I used to hear Ma play this song when I was a kid and I remember wishing I could dance at my wedding to this song.” I feel the tears starting again. “You made my dream come true without even realizing it.” He kisses my forehead. “I might have had a little help. When I thought of this idea, I talked to Ma and she gave me a list of songs that she said you loved. How could I not pick the one called ‘From here to eternity?’ I listened to it once and knew it was the one. The one I wanted to dance the first of a lifetime of dances with my wife.” Whelp. There go the tears. We slowly dance and I can’t help but think when I listened to this song as a kid, what I really was wishing for was him.
The song ends and Mick kisses my forehead again. “There’s another person who really wanted to dance with you baby. He said he only gets to do the father-daughter dance once with you.” I turn and see Pa standing right next to us. How is a girl not supposed to constantly cry when both her husband and Pa keep being so sweet and thoughtful? I go hug the man who’s loved me unconditionally practically my whole life. “Little one, I know that fine young man is now your husband and is the man that comes first in your life, but don’t ever forget how much I love you and that I loved you first, damn it.” I chuckle at him, always so protective of me. “I love you too, Pa.” When the song starts, it fits what he just said. Listening to Heartland belt out, I’m reminded of times as a little girl that Pa would have me step ontop of his feet so we could dance around the living room. I’m so thankful the gods saw that it wasn’t his time to go when he had the stroke. I can’t imagine having a better dad. He loved all of us when he didn’t have to. The hours of tea parties, dolls, and dancing that he did with me and Kierstie are too many to count, but my favorite times hands down, is when he’d find me in the closet reading and read with me, just the two of us. No matter how many kids we had in the house at the time, he would take the time to sit in there with me. “Pa, you know I said something to Mick earlier today, but I think I need to amend it.” He twirls me around once. “What’s that little one?” I put my head on his chest, just as I’ve done my entire life. “I told him he was the only one who saw me, the me behind my overthinking, fears and worry. But he’s not the only one. You saw me too. Those times you found me in my closet and we’d talk or read together. You took the time and saw me, even when I didn’t see myself.” A few seconds later I hear him sniff, like trying to hold in his emotions. “Little one, I’ve always seen you. Now just because you’re married doesn’t change the fact that I’ll always be here for you. You need an ear to listen? You know where to find me. I can’t wait to see you as a mom, I know you’re going to be amazing.” He gives me a big hug like only he can-all-encompassing and yet gentle at the same time. He kisses me on top of my head. “You go and see your husband, little one. Thank you for dancing with your old man.”
Ma
Watching Jonah dance with our little one, I know it’s killing him that she’s officially married. He thinks highly of Mick and that he’s a great guy, but those two have always had a special bond. He always would go find her when she hid in her closet when the craziness of our house got too much for her. He’s always had such a soft spot for our two girls. I know he loves our boys, but there’s something to be said for a daddy and his girls. I know he loves his grandsons something fierce but little Gracie has him wrapped around her finger already and I’m sure here shortly little Molly will too. I have no doubts when Madison gives birth, my big hulking man is going to be a sucker for her too. I watch him finish and walk back over to me. I can tell he got a little misty-eyed while out there with Madison. He sits down next to me. “You okay there?” He looks over at me and smiles with unshed tears in his eyes. “You know there are some days I wonder if we raised this bunch okay or not, but today’s one of those days that makes me realize we did a pretty fucking good job, my love.” I reach over and squeeze his hand. “That we did, that we definitely did.”
CHAPTER 11
Madison
The past two months have flown by. The sandwich shop is doing great. We’ve been busy every day and Jackie has really done well as manager and I can let her take care of a lot of the daily work since being on my feet for long periods right now isn’t so easy. In fact all the people I hired are doing great. The only time there’s any issue is when Ry comes into the shop to eat. I don’t know what it is, but he’s a magnet for Christy’s klutziness. She’s never spilled on anyone else besides herself, but when he comes in, it’s a guarantee she’s gonna find him and spill something on him. It’s been soda, hot coffee, a tub of mustard and the last one was a bucket of pickle juice. He’s now banned himself from coming in when she’s working and will order for pick up and have someone come in and get it or beg Mary to bring it out to him. I don’t know what it is, but it’s funny as shit to watch. Last time he yelled at her about it, Max got in his face reminding him she doesn’t do it on purpose. Ry was stunned silent because of all our brothers, Max is the last to do that. Still not sure what that was all about.
My pregnancy has been pretty smooth, though my eyes aren’t liking my contacts anymore, so it’s back to my glasses since I’mblind as a bat without one of the two. Oh, and Mick might add that I have an addiction to all things potato—baked, mashed, fried, Jojos, lefse, scalloped, all of it. But come on, you can’t tell me that you’ve ever had a bad potato. Having a hard day and getting some french fries help you feel better? You know it does. Who doesn’t love a baked potato with lots of butter and cheese? I’m telling you, I firmly believe we’d have more peace in the world if everyone just accepted how much a simple potato can do for you. Just sayin’. Speaking of which, it’s been a couple of days since I had one. Gonna have to rectify that situation. Anyway, focus girl. Mick’s doing awesome and has a tattoo appointment today with a guy who flew all the way from Australia to get a tattoo from him. He’s amazing and I’m so proud of him. He’s been such a hands-on dad during this pregnancy already. He’s never missed an appointment and is always at the ready to get me anything I need. If he’s stuck at the shop, he gets a prospect or one of the brothers to help me. He even got Jon to bring me dinner one time, which he did then he said I should name the baby after him. Um, he’s got his own kids to name.
Today I have an appointment with Dr. Hargrave for a check up. She’s now become my doctor as well as Kierstie’s and Jane’s. I love her. She’s sweet and down to earth and will answer any little question Mick or I have. She said last time that I might need to start coming more often after this appointment. I’m officially thirty weeks along. Mick usually comes home and picks me up for appointments but he’s going to be cutting it close with his appointment so I told him I would meet him there.
I park the SUV in the hospital parking lot. Toketee Creek is a small enough town that our doctors offices are all connected tothe hospital. I grab my purse and confirm that my ever present tablet is inside so I can read while I wait for my appointment. I also grab a plastic container of cookies that Jane made to give to the office. She says after they’ve had to deal with my brothers for both of her pregnancies that they deserve a lifetime of cookies. I personally think she’s also buttering them up ‘cause she and my sister both ain’t done having kids. I think they’re both going to end up with a bushel of kids each. Me, I think I’m leaning toward two, maybe four max. I want Mick and I to be close with our kids and as much as I loved my home growing up, I’m not sure I’m meant for that loud of a houseallthe time. Ma says I should go with what my heart tells me. Mick says he’s fine with whatever number we decide on together.
I make my way inside of Dr. Hargrave’s office and get myself checked in and have a seat. My phone dings with an incoming text.
Mick: I’m leaving the shop now. This asshole may have come all the way from down under but he left his manners there. I’ll be there as fast as I can.
Me: Drive safely. It’s just a check up, no need to get pulled over for speeding like I know you’re doing. That’s not a way to get in good with your mom’s man.
Mick: You got jokes today. I’ll be safe, I gotta be there to take care of my girls. Love you.
Me: Love you more.
I put my phone away and get out my tablet. Time for some shifter yumminess. I must only have read a couple pages before my name is called. I look up and it’s the nurse who’s recently moved over from the emergency department. I want to say his name is Darius. He’s a hoot and I think he gets a kick out of flirting with the expectant fathers and their reactions are priceless. I think he’s the only one I’ve ever seen make Mick blush. That alone will have him getting cookies from me for a long time.
