Page 122 of Miss Me Not

"How did you sleep, sweetie?" Sarah asked, giving me a one-armed hug that I didn't stiffen under at all. Progress.

"Not too bad," I said, not admitting the endless tossing and turning I had done or the tangled mess of sheets I woke up to.

"It's going to be okay," she said, giving my shoulders a squeeze. "I wasn't sure what you like for breakfast, so I made a little of everything," she added, pointing to the loaded table with every breakfast food imaginable.

"You didn't have to do that," I mumbled, wondering if there was no end to their kindness. They were like a clone of a perfect family, but in a good way.

"Hey," Dean said as I sat next to him.

"Hey," I said, flushing slightly as I thought about his words from last night. He didn't say it, but he'd made it pretty clear for me. Love. It was such a simple word, but so foreign to me, I didn't even know how to react to it.

"Bacon?" he asked, handing over a platter with the crispy bacon.

"Sure," I replied, grateful he was acting the same.

Like every meal I had shared with the Jackson family, the noise level bordered on a fever pitch as the twins excitedly talked about the new Christmas movie they were going to see that day with their grandparents. Dean and Trish kept up a running commentary about the cooking show they were both into that was some kind of cook off. I was grateful for their chatter as the minutes flew by.

Before I knew it, the kitchen was clean and the twins were being shuttled off with their papaw and nana for the day. Once they were gone, the house seemed unnaturally silent as I nervously sat on the couch next to Dean, wringing my hands in my lap. At ten o'clock on the nose, a car pulled into the gravel driveway. Sudden panic gripped me. What if seeing him brought all the bad memories crashing back, or worse, what if he looked at me with disdain like Donna did?

"You ready?" Dean asked, gripping my clasped hands.

"Yes. No. I don't know," I said, feeling helpless.

"I'll be right here by you," he said, helping me to my feet.

"I know, which is the only reason I'm not hiding," I admitted as he placed a gentle kiss on my temple.

"I love you," he said so lightly I almost thought I'd imagined it.

I nodded. I loved him too. I couldn't say the words yet, but it was because of the love we shared I was able to walk out onto the front porch.

Sarah, Tim and Trish trailed behind us, providing a united front as we watched my dad climb from his car.

He looked older, was the first thought that popped in my head as I took in his appearance. Grey hair was sprinkled throughout his dark head giving him a more distinguished look.

"Madison," he said, looking at me uncertainly, stopping just short of the front porch.

"Dad," I said, cautiously descending the stairs slowly, stopping in front of him.

"You're all grown up and beautiful," he said, shooting me a watery smile as I threw myself in his arms. "I'm so sorry," he said, stroking my head as I sobbed against his shoulder. Years of guilt drifted away in an instant as his tears mingled with mine.

Epilogue

"Ready?" Trish asked, zipping up my robe for me.

"Yep, I'm ready to blow this Cracker Jack box," I joked as she placed my graduation cap on my head.

"You look so scholarly," she teased.

"Shhh, don't say that too loudly, they might take my robe back," I teased.

"Not on your life. It's a huge deal that you ended your senior year on the honor role," she chastised me.

"Too little, too late, but I'll take it," I said, smiling at her.

"You're a twit, but I love you," she said, giving me a long hug.

"I love you too," I said, blowing her kisses as I lined up with the rest of the H's in my graduating class.

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